Fittings for gathering and fixing curtains or drapes

ABSTRACT

A fitting for gathering and fixing curtains or drapes including two plate members connected by a thin web. Each plate member is provided with a thin wing portion having bores or holes cooperable, in a folded position, with cylindrical studs having barb-like projections provided on each of the plates. The wing portions are each provided with notches extending from the outer vertical edges thereof along a line between two adjacent bores or holes in the plate members with the depth of the notches progressively increasing toward the bottom of the fitting. Spacer shims provided with bores or holes are provided and located on the cylindrical studs on each of the plate members. A clamp arrangement consisting of two substantially U-shaped members interconnected by a thin web is employed and cooperates with the plate members to clamp and maintain the curtains or drapes in a predetermined position. At least one external surface of the fitting is provided with a bore or plurality of bores for receiving projecting peg means provided on a hook employed for suspending the curtains or drapes in a vertical rail.

[ Nov. 25, 1975 l l FITTINGS FOR GATHERING AND FIXING CURTAINS OR DRAPES [75] Inventor: Hermann Pape,Laggenbeck,

Germany [73] Assignee: Gardisette Holding AG, Switzerland [22] Filed: May 3, I974 [21} Appl. No.: 466.848

Related LLS. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 4,790, Nov. [2,

I973. abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. ll. 1972 Germany 22553282 [52] U.S. Cl. 160/330 [Sll Int. Cl. A47H 1/00 [58] Field of Search l60/l24, 330, 332, 348

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,724,434 ll/l955 Smith loo/348 3.321.003 5/1967 Boerner 160/330 3,44LO77 4/l969 Romano........ l60/348 3,527,284 8/l970 Nelson et al.. l60/348 3.735,?95 5/l973 Broek l60/348 Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig & Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A fitting for gathering and fixing curtains or drapes including two plate members connected by a thin web. Each plate member is provided with a thin wing por tion having bores or holes cooperable, in a folded position, with cylindrical studs having barb-like projec tions provided on each of the plates. The wing por tions are each provided with notches extending from the outer vertical edges thereof along a line between two adjacent bores or holes in the plate members with the depth of the notches progressively increasing toward the bottom of the fitting. Spacer shims provided with bores or holes are provided and located on the cylindrical studs on each of the plate members. A clamp arrangement consisting of two substantially U- shaped members interconnected by a thin web is em ployed and cooperates with the plate members to clamp and maintain the curtains or drapes in a predetermined position. At least one external surface of the fitting is provided with a bore or plurality of bores for receiving projecting peg means provided on a hook employed for suspending the curtains or drapes in a vertical rail.

71 Claims, I4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 1 of6 3,921,696-

[/9 4 mil US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,921,696

Zia

U.S. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet40f6 3,921,696

a A QQXN US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 5 of6 3,921,696

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,921,696

FITTINGS FOR GATHERING AND FIXING CURTAINS OR DRAPES This application is a continuation-in-part of application ser. No. 414,790, filed, Nov. 12, 1973, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a fitting for gathering and fixing curtains or drapes, which, when hung, have vertically extending strips spaced from each other with each strip comprising one or more threads. The vertically extending strips are interconnected by additional threads which hang slackly and bridge the spacing between these vertical strips.

The drapery and curtain material is preferably knitted and, while many materials are known, such a material is described in commonly assigned US. patent application Ser. No. 378,164, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A substantial advantage of the material described in the aforementioned US application is that. without additional sewing operations, the material can be hung so that the effect of net curtains is created wi the threads which bridge the spacing between the vertical strips, hereinafter termed bridging threads, sagging arcuately.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fitting by which a drapery or curtain material can be so gathered that the bridging threads sag arcuately with the fitting at the same time fixing the drapery or curtain material in its gathered position.

This object of the invention is achieved by a fixing device attachable to the top end of each vertically extending strip of material which locates the strip of material practically immovably and shortens one or more upper bridging threads and retains the threads also practically immovably.

Because one or more upper bridging threads are shortened, the distance between the vertically extending strips is shortened, so that the bridging threads which are not maintained in the fixing devices sag arcuately by virtue of their size and free length, for example, in the form of a caternary owing to their flexural slackness. The amount by which the upper bridging threads are shortened and the distance between two vertically extending strips when the bridging threads are taut must be determined so that an optically pleasing sagging of the bridging threads is achieved.

In order to produce an optically uniform transition from the upper and most shortened bridging thread or threads to the unshortened bridging threads, the fixing device may be arranged to shorten the upper bridging threads by decreasing amounts preceeding downwardly of the fixing device. The bridging threads held by the fixing device are therefore shortened progressively less towards the lower end of the fixing device so that one or more of the lower threads held in the fixing device can sag.

A preferred embodiment of the fixing device comprises a plate having a lateral spacer wing which can be folded over towards the plate surface, and has notches for locating the bridging threads. Advantageously, the notches are of different depths with the depth increasing from the top of the fixing device downwards so that a shortening of the fixed bridging threads decreases from the top to the bottom of the fixing device.

While the vertical strips and the bridging threads may be held by clamping in the fixing devices, it is also possi le to glue or stick them or weld them onto the surfaces of the plates and the spacer wings.

It is further advantageous, and particularly in the case of fittings which clamp the strips and the bridging threads, if a spacer shim is located between the folded over spacer wing and the plate. The longitudinal edge of the spacer shim adjacent the spacer wing serving, in this case, as an abutment or fold edge for the curtain or drapery material which is folded over when the spacer wing is folded over. Furthermore, the vertical strip of material is clampingly maintained between the surface of the plate and the spacer shim. In situations where the vertically extending strips of material and the bridging threads are stuck or glued or welded, such a spacer shim is not required.

To simplify the attachment of a fitting according to the present invention to a material such as described in the aforementioned United States Patent Application, locking studs may be provided on the surface of the plate between the positions for the bridging threads which studs engage in correspondingly spaced holes and the spacer wing and, optionally, holes provided in the spacer shims to hold the latter. If the plate and the spacer wing are welder] or stuck together either directly or through the intermediary of the threads of the drapery or curtain material, the studs may, optionally, also be omitted.

In a preferred form of the invention, a clamp is provided and is slidable over hooks fitted on the plate and over the bent part of the spacer wing formed by folding over of the spacer wing and is resiliently maintained in the folded position. The clamp simultaneously creates a neat finish to the visible side of the fitting and also the bridging threads deflected into the notches of the spacer wing are fixed. If the deflected bridging threads are stuck or welded onto the corresponding contact surface of the spacer wing, then the clamp serves primarily as a visual mask, which may be omitted if the re verse side of the plate is selected as the visible side.

To achieve a precise guidance of each individual bridging thread. recesses aligning with each other and with the notches in the spacer wing are advantageously provided in the clamp. This is preferably achieved by recesses which taper conically and are rounded at their inner end. To ensure a neat exit of the vertical threads constituting the vertical strips of material, projections are advantageously provided at the lower edge of the plate to define recesses therebetween to guide the vertical threads.

By employing the fitting of the present invention with the material such as described in the aforementioned US. patent application. it is possible in a particularly simple manner to manufacture a drape or curtain with a fitting device as a complete unit if two plates of mir ror image symmetrical construction and, optionally. two clamps of mirror image symmetrical construction are each connected together by means of thin interme diate webs at their adjacent longitudinal edges. By this means, in a unit thus formed, the bridging threads emerging from the vertically extending strip of material can be shortened. Furthermore, it is possible by simply cutting the thin intermediate webs and simultaneously cutting the material at that point, to cut across the total width or length of the goods to obtain curtains or drapes of any desired size thereby preventing the man ufacture of the material to produce the drape and fitting device as a complete unit.

If suspending devices, such as rollers, gliders or hooks are provided at the top end of the fittings according to the invention, then a material such as described in the aforementioned US patent application, provided with fittings according to the invention, may be sold as a readymade drape or as a ready-made curtain which only requires to be hund.

Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the fittings according to the invention are provided additionally to the suspending devices or in lieu thereof, on at least one external surface with a bore or plurality of bores arranged in a row for fixing a hook. By this arrangement, when a curtain or drape is fitted in a vertical rail, as is customary for example in the United States, a fitting to a wall is possible, while, optionally, a vertical adjustment is possible within predetermined limits. If the bore or bores are located between adjacent bridging threads, then such a hook can easily be inserted into the fitting according to the invention since in the ready fitted condition a definite space is present in the interior between adjacent bridging threads to permit a hook to be engaged.

According to the present invention the hook may include a plate means provided with a projecting peg means or a plurality of projecting peg means which are selectively receivable in the bore or bores located between adjacent bridging threads to secure the hook to the fitting.

Advantageously, the projecting peg means include an enlarged head portion which may be greater or less than the diameter of the bore or bores. Additionally, the length of the projecting peg means corresponds approximately to the thickness of the plate and/or clamp.

While the hook may be formed of any suitable material, preferably, it is molded from an elastic thermoplastic synthetic resin.

While it is advantageous to injection mould the fittings of the present invention from thermoplastic mate rial, if the curtain to be gathered consists of metal threads, it may be advantageous to manufacture the fitting of metal, in which case a fixing ofa vertical threads or strips and of the bridging threads on the plate and on the spacer wing would be possible by, for example, spot welding or gluing or sticking. In this case it would be convenient to manufacture the plate including the spacer wing from a soft and flexible metal tube, in order that the spacer wings can be hinged over without breaking off from the plate.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fitting for the gathering and fixing of curtains or drapes which creates the effect of net curtains or drapes without the need of any additional sewing operation.

Another object of the present invention resides in a fixing device readily attachable to the top and of vertically extending strips of drappery or curtain material which fixedly locates these vertically extending strips.

A further object of the present invention resides in a fixing device which shortens one or more upper bridging threads and fixedly retains the same so that the bridging threads sag arcuately.

Another object of the present invention resides in a fixing device which is easily manufactured and which may be employed by manufacturers of drapery or curtain material to provide ready-made curtains or drapes.

A still further object resides in providing a hook for readily adapting the fitting of the present invention to the so called American hanging system.

4 These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows. for the purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a curtain runner member constituting the fitting or fixing device of the present invention with two plates provided with spacer wings and connected by an intermediate web;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the runner member according to FIG. 1;

FIG, 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line III- -III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the runner member according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a spacer shim according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a clamp according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the clamp illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the clamp illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial schematic elevational view of the runner member illustrated in FIG. 1 with curtain material placed thereon and one of the spacer wings folded over;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the fitting according to the present invention in the fitted position, taken along line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the fitting according to the present invention in the fitted position, the section being taken on the line Xl-XI of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a schematic elevational view of a curtain or drape gathered and fixed by the fittings according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a hook according to the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the hook illustrated in FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, reference numeral 1 generally designates in the various views a runner member constituting the fitting or fixing device of the present invention. The fitting is formed by two narrow rectangular plates 4 arranged in mutual mirror image symmetry to form a rear wall of the fitting which are connected together by means of an extremely thin easily cutable intermediate web 5 more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Thin spacer wings 6, co-planar with the front surface of the plates 4, extend laterally from the vertical, longitudinal edges of the plates 4. On the front surface of each of the plates 4, approximately at their mid widths is provided a row of cylindrical studs 7 each having a conical barb-like head 8 at their free ends. Each of the thin spacer wings 6 are provided with spaced bores 9 which, when the spacer wings are folded over about their joint line 6' (FIG. I) with the plates 4, can be located over the studs 7 and then locked in position by the barblike heads 8 to maintain the folded over spacer wings 6 in the folded position as clearly illustrated in the left-hand portion of FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the upper horizontal edges of the plates 4 are provided with fitted head plates or terminal plates 10, to which a suspending device, for example, a ring-shaped eye 11 is attached. Into the ring-shaped eye 11 a pair of rollers 12 (FIG. 4) or a glider (not shown) are inserted to permit a fitting according to the invention together with a curtain or drape gathered therein to be hund from a rail (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 each of the spacer wings 6 are provided with notches 13 extending from the outer vertical edges of the spacer wings 6 with each notch 13 extending depth wise along a line between two adjacent bores 9 provided in the spacer wings 6. The vertical spacing between adjacent notches 13 corresponds to the spacing between adjacent horizontal bridging threads of material to be gathered and fixed, as will be explained in further detail hereinbelow.

The upper notches 13, those adjacent to the head plates 10 have a relatively small depth, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, the top four notches 13 are of semicircular form, whereas the following notches l3 become progressively longer until the bottom notch 13 extends almost as far as the joint line 6' of the spacer wing 6 with the deeper notches passing between adjacent bores 9.

Angular hooks 14 are provided in the region of the adjacent longitudinal vertical edges of the plates 4, for example, the edges joined by the intermediate web 5. The angular hooks 14 project from the front surfaces of the plate 4 and have at their projecting free end a cam 15 (FIGS. 1 and 9) angled towards the intermediate web 5. As clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the hooks 14 are so formed that the intervening recess 16 between each two hooks 14 tapers conically depth wise and terminates in a semicircle to receive and guide a horizontal bridging thread of material to be gathered and clamped, as will likewise be further explained hereinbelow.

A row of conical projections 17 are provided in the region of the lower horizontal edges of the plates 4. Conical identations 18, rounded at the bottom, are provided between each two projections 17 to guide the vertically orientated threads of the material to be gathered and clamped.

Extremely thin spacer shims 2 (FIG. 5) of rectangular construction are provided and have at their midwidth a row of bores 19, the spacing between which corresponds to the spacing between the studs 7 and also between the bores 9, and the diameter of which corresponds approximately to the diameter of the bores 9. The spacer shim 2 can be located by all of its bores on the studs 7 of the plate 4 and be maintained thereon by the barb-like heads 8 of the studs 7. The width of the spacer shims 2 is such that after they have been located on the studs, one longitudinal edge 2' (FIG. 9) is pratically in contact with the backs of the hooks 14, while the other longitudinal edge 2" (FIG. 9) extends almost to the center line between the studs 7 and the bores 9.

As shown in FIGS. 6-9, a clamp 3 is provided and includes two side-by-side members of approximately shallow U-shaped cross-section with each member including two spaced arms 22, 24 and a connecting web 27. The two members are connected together along their adjacent longitudinal side by an extremely narrow and thin intermediate web 20 comparable to the intermediate web 5 between the two plates 4.

The adjacent inner arms 21 of the two members are provided with cams 22 having a profile which is complementary to that of the cams 15 provided on the hooks 14 to permit the hook-shaped arms 21 to engage the hooks 14 with the cams 22 of the inner arm 21 being disposed behind the cams 15 of the hooks l4. Conical recesses 23 with semicircularly rounded ends are provided between every two adjacent arms 21 for retaining the horizontal bridging threads lying in the recesses 16 from the front of the fitting.

The other arms 24 aligned with an opposite arm 21, are provided with conical recess 25 (FIG. 8) rounded at the bottom with approximately semi-circular indentations 26 on the inside surfaces thereof.

The webs 27 of the clamps 3 are of a plate-shaped construction, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The length of the clamps 3 correspond to the spacing between the head plates or terminal plates 10 and the conical projections 17 on the plates 4 to permit the clamps 3 to be arranged between the plates 10 and the projections 17. FIG. 9 illustrates the runner member 1 of the present invention upon which has been laid a curtain material such as described in the aforementioned US. patent application. The curtain material consists of threads 29 combined to form strips 28 which extend vertically in the hanging curtain. The strips 28 have a spacing 30 (FIG. 12) between them which is bridged by bridging threads 31. The curtain material is conveniently manufactured by knitting, in which case the bridging threads 31 are constructed as stitches and the vertically extending strips 28 consist of weft insertions extending across the total width of the work of by weft layings of the warp threads constituting stitches. Other modes of manufacture of the curtain or drape material are described in detail in the aforementioned United States Patent Application; therefore, a further detailed discussion of the specific material is deemed unnecessary.

At the commencement of the gathering and fixing operation, the material, as shown at the right hand side of FIG. 9, is laid with the upper edge portion thereof on the plates 4 of the runner member 1 with the bridging threads 31 each running in a straight line between the recesses 16 and between the studs 7. Thus, the material is placed so that each bridging thread 3] lies in a recess 16 and between two studs 17. It is obvious that the spacing of bridging threads 31 in the curtain material and the spacing between the studs 7 and between the hooks 14 are co-ordinated.

The threads 29 forming the strips 28 are located in the recesses 18 between the conical projections 17 extending along the bottom edge of the plates 4. 1n the region of the hooks 14 the strip 28 is interrupted by omitting one or two threads 29, so that the material can be laid upon the runner member 1 in a simple manner. Subsequently, two spacer shims 2 are pushed respectively onto the two rows of studs 7. The vertical edges of the strips 29 terminate at the outer vertical longitudinal edges of the spacer shims 2, which serve as folding edges for the bridging threads 31.

The spacer wings 6 are then folded over so that they come to line in a position clearly illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. Since all the parts may be injected moulded from a flexible plastic material, the folding over of the spacer wings 6 is facilitated by the relative thinness of the spacer wings 6. The bores 9 in the spacer wings 6 are then pushed over the heads 8 of the studs 7 so that the spacer wings 6 are locked in the position illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, while the strips 28 of the curtain material are clampingly maintained between the front surface of the plates 4 and the confronting face, for example, the rear face. of the spacer shims 2. The portions of the bridging threads 31 which are folded over 7 with the spacer wings 6 are elampingly maintained between the spacer wings 6 and the front face of the spacer shims 2.

Since the bridging threads 31 are located in the notches 13 of the spacer wings 6, when the spacer wings 6 are folded over, the upper bridging threads are shortened more than the lower threads which are lo cated in the deeper notches 13, as clearly shown in FIGS 12. Those portions of the bridging threads 31 which are not clamped between the spacer wings 6 and the spacer shims 2 continue to be oriented outwards.

Subsequently. the clamp 3 is fitted over the assembly outlined hereinabove with the cams 22 on the arms 21 engaging beneath the earns ofthe hooks l4, and the semi-circular indentations 26 and the arms 24 coming into position over the semi-circularly curved sections 32 of the spacer wings created by the folding operation whereby the clamps 3 are resiliently but firmly connected to the runner member 1. The threads passing out laterally from the assembly are located in the recesses 25 between the arms 24 and are, at the same time, definitely guided. The inner end of the bottom deepest notch 13 is then located at the apex point of the bent section 32 of the spacer wings 6, so that a uniform transition from the ungathered to the gathered bridging threads 31 is ensured as clearly shown in FIGS. II and 12.

With the fittings according to the present invention, it is possible to gather and fix drapery and curtain material such as described in the aforementioned 1.15. patent application into so called net curtains with a complete assembly being possible by the manufacturer of the material.

According to the present invention a cutting off of required lengths from a web of material of any length is possible, in that by simultaneously cutting through the two intermediate webs S and and through the threads 3] along the line extending between the plates 4 and clamping members 3 connected by said interme diate webs, any desired length can be obtained which also, simultaneously. has the correct fittings, for example, half fittings, at the ends. In order to facilitate this, the strips 28 are divided by the ommission of one or more threads 29, which would be located between the hooks 14, into two partial strips 28a and 28b between which it is easy to make a cut.

To render the fitting more versatile and adaptable when the so cailed American hanging system is adopted. continuous bores 33 and 34 are provided in the clamp 3 (FIGS 6, 7) and for in the plate 4 (FIG. 9) into which bores a hook member (FIGS. 13, I4) may be introduced to permit the fitting of the present invention together with the curtain to be hung on a wall. As may be seen from FIGS. 6 and 9, the bores 33, 34 are fitted so that they each lie between two adjacent bridg ing threads 31, for example, within a region which still remains clear after the insertion and fixing of the curtain material as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 9, two rows of bores 33 and 34 are arranged in each plate shaped web 27 of tht clamp 3 and/or in the plates 4 of the runner section I, with the spacing n of each row of bores 33 and 34 from the next row being the same. The mutually corresponding bores ofcach row are each on a straight, horizontal line. Additionally. the spacing b of two adjacent holes of one row is the same in each case.

As can be seen from FIGS. I3 and 14, the hook 35 according to the present invention consists ofa plate 36 having a rearwardly and downwardly projecting bracket 37 attached to one of its surfaces which is adapted to be placed on a horizontally extending rod (not shown) mounted to a wall. Vertically projecting pegs 38, similar to the pegs 7 in FIG. 3, with the spherical head 39 are attached at their free ends on the other planar surface of the plate 36. Two rows of pegs 38 are provided on the surface of the plate 36 with the spacing of these two rows equal to the distnce to a (FIGv 14) provided between adjacent rows of bores 33, 34.

The vertical distance between two adjacent pegs 38 in each row corresponds to the spacing provided be tween two adjacent bores of one row b (FIG. 13). The diameter of the pegs 38 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bores 33 and 34, while the diameter of the heads 39 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the bores 33 and 34. Furthermore, the length of the pegs 38 corresponds approximately to the thickness of the plates 4 and/or the thickness of the webs 27.

The hooks 35 can be buttoned to the outside of the runner sections 1 and/or the clamp 3 at various levels. since the number of bores 33 and 34 in each row is con siderably larger than the number of the pegs 38 at the hook 35, where preferably three pegs 38 with heads 39 are present in each row on the surface of the plate 36 Since four rows of bores 33 and 34 with identical mu tual spacings are provided at the runner section I and-- /or the clamp 3, the hook 35 can either be attached to bores of the two central rows or. respectively, to bores of the two left-hand rows or of the two right-hand rows. The latter attachment is of interest if at the end of a curtain or drapery there is only half fitting or half of a runner section I, for example, only one plate 4 and only one web 27 of the clamp 3.

The hook 35 may be suitably molded from an elastic thermoplastic synthetic resin, so that the heads 39 of the pegs 38 can be elastically deformed when pressed through the bores 33 and 34.

In situations where, as mentioned hereinabove, the material is not clampingly maintained, for exarnpic, where the attachment between the fitting according to the invention and the material is not releasable, but the fixing of the material to the plate and spacer wing, and mainly on both surfaces of the spacer wing, is effected by sticking or welding, the simplest fixing of the material may comprise solely the plate and the spacer wing. In this situation a clamp need no longer be provided. However, the reverse side of the piate would preferably have to be used as the visible side Additionally, a spacer shim would definitely no lo ger be required III this situation, since its function as an abutment edge and abutment surface for the vertical strips and the bridging threads would no longer be necessary.

While we have shown and described a single ernbodv merit in accordance with the present invention, it is un derstood that the same is not limited thereto but is sus ceptible of numerous changes and modifications a:- known to those skilled in the art. and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and de scribed herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. An arrangement for gathering and lining curtain or drape material having, when hung, vertically extending strips spaced from each other comprising one or more threads and additional threads interconnecting said vertically extending threads, said additional threads hanging slackly and bridging the spacing between said vertically extending strips, said arrangement comprising means attached to the upper end of each vertical strip for locating said strip substantially immovably and means for shortening at least one of said additional threads and for locating said additional threads substantially immovably.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said additional threads are spaced along the entire length of said vertically extending strips, and wherein said means for shortening shortens at least the upper additional threads by decreasing amounts.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means attached to the upper end of said vertical strip comprises a plate member, at least one lateral spacer means provided on said plate member, said spacer means being selectively foldable towards one surface of said plate member, and wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads is provided on said spacer means.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads includes a plurality of notches provided on said spacer means.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said notches are of a predetermined depth with the depth of at least some of said notches progressively increasing.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said vertically extending strips and said additional threads are glued on said plate member and said spacer means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said vertically extending strips and said additional threads are welded to said plate member and said spacer means.

8. An arrangement according to claim 4, further including a clamping means cooperable with said plate member and said spacer means for substantially immovably locating said vertical strips and said additional threads.

9. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

10. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means is provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

11. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a clamping means is provided and includes a first and second arm, said plate member includes hook means, said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member, said second arm being resiliently engageable with a bend formed in said spacer means by folding said spacer means toward said plate member.

12. An arrangement according to claim 3, further including a clamping means cooperable with said plate member and said spacer means for substantially immovably locating said vertical strips and said additional threads.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein a shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and 10 said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means and said shim means are provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said clamp means includes a first and second arm and said plate member includes hook means, said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member, said second arm being resiliently engageably with a bend in said spacer means when said spacer means is folded toward said plate member.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads includes notches provided on said spacer means, and wherein recesses aligned with said notches are provided between said hook means and associated arms of said clamp means.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said recesses taper conically and are rounded at their inner ends.

18. An arrangement according to claim 13, further comprising projection means spaced by recess means provided on the bottom edge of said plate member for guiding said vertically extending strips.

19. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein at least two plate members and at least two clamp means of mirror image symmetrical construction are pro vided, said two plate members and said clamp means being respectively attached to each other by thin intermediate web means at their respective adjacent edges.

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein means for suspending said plate member are provided at the top end thereof.

21. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein shim means are provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

22. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means is provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

23. An arrangement according to claim 3. wherein a clamping means is provided and includes first and sec ond arms. said plate member includes hook means. said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member. said second arm being resiliently engageable with a bend formed in said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

24. An arrangement according to claim 3, further comprising projection means spaced by recess means provided along the bottom edge of said plate member for guiding said vertically extending strips.

25. An arrangement according to claim 24, wherein at least two plate members and at least two clamping means cooperable with said plate members are provided, said plate members and said clamping means being of mirror image symmetrical construction, said two plate members and said two clamping means being 1 1 respectively attached to each other by thin intermediate web means at their respective adjacent edges.

26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein means for suspending said plate member are provided at the top end thereof.

27. An arrangement according to claim 25, further comprising a suspending hook means wherein at least on one external surface of the arrangement a bore is provided for receiving said suspending hook means.

28. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means. and means disposed on said plate means receivable in said bore for selectively attaching said suspending hook means to the arrangement.

29. An arrangement according to claim 28, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes a projecting peg.

30. An arrangement according to claim 29, wherein said projecting peg is provided with an enlarged head portion.

31. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bore.

32. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members. and wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.

33. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bore.

34. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.

35. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein a plurality of bores are provided, said bores being disposed in a row on said at least one external surface.

36. An arrangement according to claim 35, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed between adjacent threads.

37. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means, and means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some of said plurality of bores for selectively attaching said suspending hook means to the arrangement.

38. An arrangement according to claim 37, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least two projecting pegs.

39. An arrangement according to claim 38, wherein each of said projecting pegs is provided with an enlarged head portion.

40. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bore.

41. An arrangement according to claim 40, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members. and wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.

42. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bore.

43. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.

44. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed in at least two spaced rows on said at least one external surface.

45. An arrangement according to claim 44, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members.

46. An arrangement according to claim 44, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some plurality of bores in each of said spaced rows for selectively attaching the suspending hook means to the arrangement.

47. An arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least a pair of spaced projecting pegs, said pegs being spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.

48. An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein a plurality of projecting pegs are provided on said plate means, said projecting pegs being disposed in rows and spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.

49. An arrangement according to claim 48, wherein each of said projecting pegs is provided with an enlarged head portion.

50. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bores.

51. An arrangement according to claim 50, wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.

52. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bores.

53. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.

54. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said clamping means.

55. An arrangement according to claim 54, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed in at least two spaced rows on said external surface of said clamping means.

56. An arrangement according to claim 55, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means, and means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some of said plurality of bores in each of said spaced rows for selectively attaching the suspending hook means to the arrangement.

57. An arrangement according to claim 56, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least a pair of spaced projecting pegs, said pegs being spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.

58. An arrangement according to claim 57, wherein a plurality of projecting pegs are provided on said plate means, said projecting pegs being disposed in rows and spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.

59. An arrangement according to claim 58, wherein said each of said projecting pegs is provided with an enlarged head portion.

60. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bores.

61. An arrangement according to claim 60, wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said clamping means.

62. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bores.

63. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.

64. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said at least one bore is disposed between adjacent additional threads.

65. An arrangement according to claim 64, wherein said arrangement is composed of resilient thermoplastic material.

66. An arrangement according to claim 64, wherein said arrangement is composed of soft flexible metal.

67. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.

68. An arrangement according to claim 67, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking 14 studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs. and wherein said spacer means and said shim means are provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folder over toward said plate member.

69. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a pair of plate members and a pair of clamping means cooperable with said plate members are provided, each of said plate members and said clamping means being respectively interconnected by a thin web means.

70. An arrangement according to claim 69. wherein each of said plate members is provided with a spacer means, and wherein a pair of shim means are provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of a respective plate member and a respective spacer means when said spacer means are folded toward their respective plate member.

71. An arrangement according to claim 70, wherein each plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, each of said spacer wings and said shim means being provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means are folded toward their respective plate member. 

1. An arrangement for gathering and fixing curtain or drape material having, when hung, vertically extending strips spaced from each other comprising one or more threads and additional threads interconnecting said vertically extending threads, said additional threads hanging slackly and bridging the spacing between said vertically extending strips, said arrangement comprising means attached to the upper end of each vertical strip for locating said strip substantially immovably and means for shortening at least one of said additional threads and for locating said additional threads substantially immovably.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said additional threads are spaced along the entire length of said vertically extending strips, and wherein said means for shortening shortens at least the upper additional threads by decreasing amounts.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means attached to the upper end of said vertical strip comprises a plate member, at least one lateral spacer means provided on said plate member, said spacer means being selectively foldable towards one surface of said plate member, and wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads is provided on said spacer means.
 4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads includes a plurality of notches provided on said spacer means.
 5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said notches are of a predetermined depth with the depth of at least some of said notches progressively increasing.
 6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said vertically extending strips and said additional threads are glued on said plate member and said spacer means.
 7. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said vertically extending strips and said additional threads are welded to said plate member and said spacer means.
 8. An arrangement according to claim 4, further including a clamping means cooperable with said plate member and said spacer means for substantially immovably locating said vertical strips and said additional threads.
 9. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 10. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means is provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 11. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a clamping means is provided and includes a first and second arm, said plate Member includes hook means, said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member, said second arm being resiliently engageable with a bend formed in said spacer means by folding said spacer means toward said plate member.
 12. An arrangement according to claim 3, further including a clamping means cooperable with said plate member and said spacer means for substantially immovably locating said vertical strips and said additional threads.
 13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein a shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means and said shim means are provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said clamp means includes a first and second arm and said plate member includes hook means, said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member, said second arm being resiliently engageably with a bend in said spacer means when said spacer means is folded toward said plate member.
 16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said means for shortening and locating said additional threads includes notches provided on said spacer means, and wherein recesses aligned with said notches are provided between said hook means and associated arms of said clamp means.
 17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said recesses taper conically and are rounded at their inner ends.
 18. An arrangement according to claim 13, further comprising projection means spaced by recess means provided on the bottom edge of said plate member for guiding said vertically extending strips.
 19. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein at least two plate members and at least two clamp means of mirror image symmetrical construction are provided, said two plate members and said clamp means being respectively attached to each other by thin intermediate web means at their respective adjacent edges.
 20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein means for suspending said plate member are provided at the top end thereof.
 21. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein shim means are provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 22. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means is provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 23. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a clamping means is provided and includes first and second arms, said plate member includes hook means, said first arm being disposed over said hook means on said plate member, said second arm being resiliently engageable with a bend formed in said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 24. An arrangement according to claim 3, further comprising projection means spaced by recess means provided along the bottom edge of said plate member for guiding said vertically extending strips.
 25. An arrangement according to claim 24, wherein at least two plate members and at least two clamping means cooperable with said plate members are provided, said plate members and said clamping means being of mirror image symmetrical construction, said two plate members and said two clamping means being respectively attached to each other by thin intermediate web means at their respective adjacent edges.
 26. An arRangement according to claim 25, wherein means for suspending said plate member are provided at the top end thereof.
 27. An arrangement according to claim 25, further comprising a suspending hook means wherein at least on one external surface of the arrangement a bore is provided for receiving said suspending hook means.
 28. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means, and means disposed on said plate means receivable in said bore for selectively attaching said suspending hook means to the arrangement.
 29. An arrangement according to claim 28, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes a projecting peg.
 30. An arrangement according to claim 29, wherein said projecting peg is provided with an enlarged head portion.
 31. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bore.
 32. An arrangement according to claim 31, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members, and wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.
 33. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bore.
 34. An arrangement according to claim 30, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.
 35. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein a plurality of bores are provided, said bores being disposed in a row on said at least one external surface.
 36. An arrangement according to claim 35, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed between adjacent threads.
 37. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means, and means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some of said plurality of bores for selectively attaching said suspending hook means to the arrangement.
 38. An arrangement according to claim 37, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least two projecting pegs.
 39. An arrangement according to claim 38, wherein each of said projecting pegs is provided with an enlarged head portion.
 40. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bore.
 41. An arrangement according to claim 40, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members, and wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.
 42. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bore.
 43. An arrangement according to claim 39, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.
 44. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed in at least two spaced rows on said at least one external surface.
 45. An arrangement according to claim 44, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said plate members.
 46. An arrangement according to claim 44, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some plurality of bores in each of said spaced rows for selectively attaching the suspending hook means to the arrangement.
 47. An arrangement according to claim 46, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least a pair of spaced projecting pegs, said pegs being spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.
 48. An arrangement according to claim 47, wherein a plurality of projecting pegs are provided on said plate means, said projecting pegs being disposed in rows and spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.
 49. An arrangement according to claim 48, wherein each of said projecting pegs is proviDed with an enlarged head portion.
 50. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bores.
 51. An arrangement according to claim 50, wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said plate members.
 52. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bores.
 53. An arrangement according to claim 49, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.
 54. An arrangement according to claim 36, wherein said at least one external surface is an external surface of said clamping means.
 55. An arrangement according to claim 54, wherein said plurality of bores are disposed in at least two spaced rows on said external surface of said clamping means.
 56. An arrangement according to claim 55, wherein said suspending hook means includes a plate means, and means disposed on said plate means receivable in at least some of said plurality of bores in each of said spaced rows for selectively attaching the suspending hook means to the arrangement.
 57. An arrangement according to claim 56, wherein said means disposed on said plate means includes at least a pair of spaced projecting pegs, said pegs being spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.
 58. An arrangement according to claim 57, wherein a plurality of projecting pegs are provided on said plate means, said projecting pegs being disposed in rows and spaced at a distance equal to the space between said at least two rows of bores.
 59. An arrangement according to claim 58, wherein said each of said projecting pegs is provided with an enlarged head portion.
 60. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat less than the diameter of said bores.
 61. An arrangement according to claim 60, wherein each of said pegs has a length substantially equal to the thickness of said clamping means.
 62. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said enlarged head portion is somewhat larger than the diameter of said bores.
 63. An arrangement according to claim 59, wherein said suspending hook means consists of an elastically deformable thermoplastic synthetic resin.
 64. An arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said at least one bore is disposed between adjacent additional threads.
 65. An arrangement according to claim 64, wherein said arrangement is composed of resilient thermoplastic material.
 66. An arrangement according to claim 64, wherein said arrangement is composed of soft flexible metal.
 67. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a shim means is provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of said plate member and said spacer means when said spacer means is folded over toward said plate member.
 68. An arrangement according to claim 67, wherein said plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, said additional threads being positioned between said locking studs, and wherein said spacer means and said shim means are provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means is folder over toward said plate member.
 69. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a pair of plate members and a pair of clamping means cooperable with said plate members are provided, each of said plate members and said clamping means being respectively interconnected by a thin web means.
 70. An arrangement according to claim 69, wherein each of said plate members is provided with a spacer means, and wherein a pair of shim means are provided, said shim means being disposed between one surface of a respective plate member and a respective spacer means when said spacer means are folded toward their respective plate member.
 71. An arrangement according to claim 70, wherein each plate member is provided with spaced locking studs, each of said spacer wings aNd said shim means being provided with spaced holes engageable with said locking studs when said spacer means are folded toward their respective plate member. 